Ranger School enrollment is healthy

WANAKENA  Starting enrollment at the Ranger School is strong at 56 students.

Anything over 50 is a good group, Director Michael R. Bridgen said.

The school started a third area of study  environmental and natural resources conservation  in 2011 to boost student numbers. The concentration has 23 students.

Theres a lot of interest in it, Mr. Bridge said.

The schools more traditional field of forestry technology has 22 students and land surveying technology has 11.

Local students come from Carthage, Harrisville, and Fort Drum, and a few hail from New Jersey, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.

The class includes nine women.

The Ranger School is a division of SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse. Most students attend in their second year of either a two-year or a four-year degree program.

At the conclusion of their year at the Ranger School, they earn an associate degree in applied science.

The school tweaked the curriculum for this year, moving a course in logging to the fall.

We always had a problem with having it in the spring because of mud, Mr. Bridgen said.

Although most fall courses will remain the core curriculum all students take, those in specific fields will take separate courses in timber harvesting, wildlife techniques and computer assisted drafting.

Students will soon participate in a service project painting the boards at the Clifton-Fine Arena, Mr. Bridgen said.

Commenting rules:

Stick to the topic of the article/letter/editorial.

When responding to issues raised by other commenters, do not engage in personal attacks or name-calling.

Comments that include profanity/obscenities or are libelous in nature will be removed without warning.

Violators' commenting privileges may be revoked indefinitely. By commenting you agree to our full Terms of Use.